Hagerstown to refund hundreds of paid speeding tickets from school zones

Tickets issued between December 2012 and January 2013 will be refunded.

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Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

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Posted May. 15, 2013 at 10:30 AM

Posted May. 15, 2013 at 10:30 AM

Hagerstown, Md.

Hundreds of drivers who got speeding tickets in school zones during a one-month period between December 2012 and January 2013 will be getting their money back.

The refunds involve tickets issued under the Safe Speed for Students Program, the city’s automated speed enforcement system, on Northern Avenue, West Franklin Street and Memorial Boulevard East, according to a news release issued by Hagerstown City Police.

During a court hearing on Monday, it was discovered that one of the radar units on Northern Avenue had a one-month lapse in certification. The case involved three citations issued to the same vehicle during January 2013, which were dismissed by District Court Judge Mark Thomas. It was noted during the case that the radar unit in the speed camera involved was found to be operating properly even though the certification had not been updated.

Police Chief Mark Holtzman called for an immediate review of all radar certifications in the system and it was discovered that two additional certifications had lapsed in January.

More than 800 motorists were issued tickets in the affected areas and:

— notices will be mailed this week to anyone who was issued a citation in error.

— refunds will be issued if payment has already been made.

The police department contracts with Brekford Corp. of Hanover, Md., to supply its speed camera equipment. Under the agreement, Brekford is responsible for shipping the radar units to an independent lab for recertification every 12 months.

Brekford has responded quickly to the requests from the police department and has identified the exact number of citations affected by the lapse in certification and has agreed to pay the full amount of the refunds, police said.